David Ruffin, Common Man | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 21st edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Common Man” by the one-and-only David Ruffin.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 21^st edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Common Man” performed by David Ruffin.

“But I’ve never, never, never, never, changed / I never changed one grain of sand / Oh, thanks to you, baby /… for just loving a common man.” David Ruffin (1941 – 1991) was one of the most dynamic singers ever. As the frontman of The Temptations, he was quite the showman – electrifying.  As a solo artist, he continued to flourish thanks to his tremendous vocal gifts. His demons were his undoing, sadly, but the voice endures forever.  “Common Man” wasn’t one of Ruffin’s six chart entries on the pop charts.  On the R&B charts, it merely peaked at number 84.  But, the second track from his self-titled 1973 album is marvelous despite its modest chart performance. It was written and produced by Bobby Miller.  

“Common Man” has ample pros. First and foremost, David Ruffin is a beast.  It begins with his electrifying opening run, showing off his vocal versatility.  The vocals are expressive and nuanced throughout.  He ‘gives his all’ as he sings, bringing incredible authenticity, grit, personality, and soulfulness.

“You said, and you said it softly

I didn’t have to worry about being a common man

You said, ‘David, you don’t have to worry about rising to the top’

You said, you said, you said I didn’t have to swear by my blood

But ah baby, that one day your heartaches would stop.”

His ad-libs are awe-inspiring and otherworldly. He gets a lift from the background vocals.  The chorus, excerpted earlier, is the centerpiece.  The second go-round, there is a slight variation: “Then you put your arms around and you said / You never, never, never, never cared / If I never change one single grain of sand.” He caps things off with a dynamic outro, showing gratitude to her for accepting him for his commonness. The melodies are tuneful. The production is lush and soulful – the perfect canvas for him to paint upon. David Ruffin was ‘that’ guy – talented to the nth degree. Two top 10 pop singles isn’t shabby in the least.  But, Ruffin deserved far more notoriety. He is the denotation of a once-in-a-lifetime talent.  “Common Man” is awesome more than 50 years after his arrival. 

David Ruffin  // David Ruffin // Motown // 1973

David Ruffin, Common Man: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 21 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Motown; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]